Ultrafine Finesse 100

[Paul Howell]

Broke down and bought a roll of Finesse 100 along with DX coded canisters, ruined a roll, top came off the first roll, second 2 are fine. Shot a roll this morning, tested at ISO 25, 50, 100, and 400, Clayton F676+ 1:9 68 degrees 6 minutes, so far, visual inspection of wet negatives, 200 look good, will know better when I print, I hope this afternoon. Shot with Sigma SA7 and 28 to 105 lens, meter is really accurate, matches my Gossen. If I like the 100 will also get a roll of the 400.

 

[Jon Buffington]

Will be interested to see your results

 

[Paul Howell]

Here is a test shot, not the best scan of the print, my old Cannon flatbed scanner is not hooked up. Straight print, 9 seconds with D3, 50mm at F 8, 1200 Lum GE LED. Seems that 200 is pretty close, good shadows, highlight are not blown out of the water. Printed grade 2, for presentation print, might go 2 1/2 or maybe 3. Of course the print looks better. Next I tweak the time, will shoot a few short rolls at 200 and develop at 5 1/2 and 6 1/2 to fine tune the highlight.

 

[Jon Buffington]

I am surprised this as at 200...the shadows have some detail to them. Thank you for the example.

 

[AZD]

Any ideas - or guesses - on the origin of Finesse 100? Seems like there aren't enough users yet. By chance can you compare to the now unavailable Extreme 100? I've been tempted to buy a spool of Finesse but information is sparse. Your example looks promising though.

 

[Paul Howell]

Has a clear base, my guess either a movie film or aero film, the base comes closest to aero film that I've used in the past. Saying that most think the 400 version is a movie film. With the 100, the grain seem much finer than I gotten with Double X. If I get bored this week I will drag out my test charts to see what it's resolution is. Not a true bench set up, but will get me in the ball park. In terms of Ultrafine 100, for day to day shooting it shoots as well as Extream 100, maybe a little better, at 200 good shadows, might boost time in the soup by 30 seconds to increase contrast. To shoot at 100 needs to cut time in the developer. Still pondering on ordering a can of the 400, wondering how well will it shoot at 800? Next month leaving for a vacation, will take Tmax 400 and a roll or 2 of Tmax 100.

Second print, again not a good scan, print is much sharper, no idea why the scan is so poor. This frame was shot at 100, same roll as the print made from the frame shot at 200. The woman shooting the dog blouse is somewhat blocked, she was in the shade, could reduce development by 30 seconds.

 

[AZD]

Thanks Paul, that's the best description I've heard so far. I'd be interested to know what you find out about the red sensitivity - generally more or less than "average".